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Publix Denies Interest In Harris Teeter Stores

Published: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 11:57 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 11:57 p.m.

Publix Super Markets Inc. doesn't have any plans to buy the Harris Teeter grocery chain, a spokeswoman said Thursday. Officials with Harris Teeter, based in Matthews, N.C., have confirmed a possible sale of the company. Unnamed sources told Reuters news agency that large grocery chains, such as Publix and Kroger, would likely consider purchasing Harris Teeter, but Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous said that's not in the works. "We are not in negotiation or conversations with Harris Teeter," Brous told The Ledger. "Most of our growth happens organically" and not through store acquisitions. In September, Publix announced an expansion into North Carolina, and the chain has signed two leases for stores in the greater Charlotte area.

<p>Publix Super Markets Inc. doesn't have any plans to buy the Harris Teeter grocery chain, a spokeswoman said Thursday. Officials with Harris Teeter, based in Matthews, N.C., have confirmed a possible sale of the company. Unnamed sources told Reuters news agency that large grocery chains, such as Publix and Kroger, would likely consider purchasing Harris Teeter, but Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous said that's not in the works. "We are not in negotiation or conversations with Harris Teeter," Brous told The Ledger. "Most of our growth happens organically" and not through store acquisitions. In September, Publix announced an expansion into North Carolina, and the chain has signed two leases for stores in the greater Charlotte area.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output -->